A lot of time has passed since then. The sun has already set and only the stars fill the pitch-black night sky with light. As if they were dancing up there, elegant and mindful, but still impressive enough to leave a lasting impression on me.

I've longed for them for a long time, ever since I was a little boy. Because a star never shines alone. There are thousands and thousands of them, with no end in sight. Kind of depressing.

Instead of a graceful star, my existence is more like a sad shooting star. Perhaps beautiful to look at, but far away from his friends in the endless sky and condemned to eternal loneliness. Quickly forgotten...

I had actually decided that everything would change this year. I would prove to my father that I am not the person the rumors make me out to be. And he would surely understand, hug me and apologize to me. My siblings would visit me again, laugh with me and treat me like their most important family. I would finally make friends. Comrades who stand with me through thick and thin. I would...

But none of that happened. If anything, it's gotten worse. So incredibly worse...I would love to sink into my bed forever. Finally waking up and realizing it's all just a bad nightmare. An illusion, a cheap copy of a life I wasn't meant for. A simple mistake.

How beautiful it would be...

Exhausted, I get up from my bed and walk to the wide window behind my desk and open it with a strong jerk. The fresh evening air has a healing effect on my tired body and the shine of the moon is reflected in my eyes.

"Beautiful..." passes my lips as my gaze focuses on the night sky.

I've always liked the night more. Maybe it's because in the dark everything seems so insignificant, like a cautious game that could only be significant once discovered. As if she were a protective barrier that would smother all my problems into nothingness.

In moments like this I can finally breathe freely. Something that is rarely granted to me. Because if the looks of my fellow human beings don't pierce me, then it is their aggression that often finishes me off, be it insults or humiliation.

That's why I'm glad that I can hide under the cover of the deep night, isolated from all the hatred that is thrown at me during the day.

Still, one thing won't let me go. Well, it rather concerns me.

"Did I say something wrong?"

When I wanted to talk to Moris at the end of the last day of school, with the best intentions of course, I didn't expect such a violent reaction. When our eyes met, all I could see was fear in his. As if he were standing in front of a terrible monster that would devour him at any second. Do I look that intimidating? I thought my looks were one of the few positive things about me. But maybe I was wrong about that too.

In any case, not much happened after that, because my mouth couldn't utter a word after this huge reaction. So I quickly turned around and left the classroom, leaving the tragedy of a failed conversation behind me.

I wish I had the little wolfdog back, his fluffy fur would certainly be a calming treatment for my irritated nerves. I now really believe that I was the only one who saw a spark of friendship in Moris's and my friendship. Not that I blame him, I certainly don't have the right to do that.

My attention wanders to the unsorted pile of books on my desk that I'll probably spend the rest of my vacation reading. One advantage of not having friends and responsibilities is all the free time you have.

"Advanced magical concepts, the beginning of magic, theoretical self-defense, the first sword saint. Phew... so many books."

With my eyes closed, I grab one of the books as if it were a game of chance and place it on the small nightstand next to my bed before lying back down. I have to have one ready when I wake up tomorrow.

"The seven deities, hmm? Not a bad grip, I think, although a little dry."

But now I need a bit of sleep, because who can work exhausted? Plus, my pillow is so incredibly soft that I would like to sink into it forever.

With a final touch, I turn off my little night lamp and close my eyes, expecting a cute dream with lots of little wolfdogs.

*************************

-"Help!?!"-

Some scream woke me from my sleep and I'm still not sure if it came from my nightmare or if I actually heard it. To be honest, I'm leaning towards the latter, but I'm not convinced.

It's probably because of the wolfdogs in my dream, who didn't exactly look like they were calling for help, nor did they have any form of linguistic expertise. They were just animals, albeit intelligent in their own way.

In any case, it must have come from somewhere close by, whether from the far depths of my mind or from reality. However, I can't leave it to chance. I dressed in a hurry, a lush silk shirt and rather loose trousers. Nothing extravagant, but I don't think the person in need would care much whether I showed up in boring or fancy clothing.

With my glowing lamp in my right hand, I am now standing in the hallway on the second floor, the dormitory for nobles. I scratch my forehead in frustration. I said I love the night, but darkness is a pretty tough debuff in situations where you're searching for something. Luckily I took my little source of light with me, even if it only faintly shows me the way.

Every step I take is filled with caution, as if tiptoeing to avoid even the slightest noise. If any of the students who stay in the academy like me see me now, I'll be in massive trouble. A boy of my reputation outside of his private space, in the dead of night. How suspicious will that be, I wonder?

Although it would certainly be wise to tell someone, even if it is someone who despises me. Unfortunately, I hardly assume that they will even listen to me, let alone believe me... How frustrating.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Reaching the stairs, I take each step with focused attention. The light illuminates my path, but I can't really see much and I couldn't allow myself to stumble now.

Only when I see the exit do I breathe a sigh of relief.

Otherwise, the entrance area is filled with people, nobles and their servants, as well as the soldiers and professionals who keep an eye on the management and security of this place. But this late at night it is completely empty, like a long-abandoned ruin.

"Unusual..."

The holidays may have only just begun and the majority of students have returned to their families, but some have remained at the academy. Isn't it negligent to also withdraw soldiers from the dormitories? Or maybe they heard the scream, like I did, and are currently looking for the source. But still...

"I should probably go back to my room. I mean, even if someone has problems, they probably don't want to be helped by me. I'm sure I just imagined it and if not, the soldiers are already on their way. So there's no reason for me to get involved any further haha! Yeah, sure..."

— Push

The cold air pricks my scantily clad skin like a thousand needles. I should really wear thicker clothing for my next rescue mission.

At first glance nothing seems out of the norm, only the soldiers I expected are missing. Only after a close examination of the nearby area did I find something strange.

"Footprints... and they lead towards the forest. Nothing I found suggests a violent attack. Still, these footprints are suspicious. In any case there must be four people and judging by the shapes they fit a girl and two boys who might be about my age. I can't figure out the fourth type exactly, male anyway, but no idea how old... Hmm."

Something is very wrong here. Three guys and a girl together in the dead of night and then this cry for help... Smells like a lot of trouble to me. Now would be the best time to get help, but any moment could be crucial.

"I'll definitely regret this."

I give chase with hasty steps. I may not be the expected savior, but I'm still better than no support at all.

*************************

"Mhhhh!"

"She should keep her mouth shut!"

"You understand, your whining won't save you!"

"Mmm!"

— Slap

"This is what you deserve for being disobedient!"

"Hey, you shouldn't damage the goods, even though they're too pretty not to play with a little right now, hehe."

Tears formed in the girl's eyes. She couldn't believe how she could end up in such a situation. She was one of the most outstanding talents of the newest generation, undefeated in her use of fire magic, the most destructive art of magic.

The secret attempt to visit her friend had turned out to be a huge mistake. No matter what happened now, it certainly wouldn't be good.

Frustration and fear filled her head.

If she hadn't been suddenly attacked, perhaps she wouldn't have found herself in this situation and at least she would have been able to defend herself. Her fire magic could have helped her, but something prevented her from using mana.

It had to be this strange band that tied both her arms together and made any attempt to escape impossible. Her only glimmer of hope lay in the cry for help she mustered in the face of her captors' carelessness. That's why their praying eyes were focused on the direction from which they came.

But nobody came.

"Phew, lucky again. I thought the bitch had exposed us."

"And if anything, we have that there in case of an emergency, haha," said the brown-haired boy in a condescending tone.

The boy with the brown, coarse hair didn't look familiar to the girl. He must have been one of the inconspicuous young nobles. But that mattered little to her; rather, her uncontrollable hatred was directed at the person who seemed to be running the entire operation.

He was a fat, ugly boy, with greasy blonde hair and a face you'd love to smash if you had the chance. Ramon Gottfried, the legitimate heir to the Gottfried House, which only meant a bleak future for the house. And he had been her fiancé, her former fiancé.

She didn't know why he had changed so much. They were childhood friends and at some point in the past she had truly loved him too. But without any particular reason he changed. He became more corrupt, lazier and more and more abnormal in his dealings with others. When she came to the academy, she had had enough. Shortly after, she decided to break off the engagement once and for all.

This kidnapping was probably the result, she thought. A cunning act of revenge from a person for whom she only felt disgust. But aversion didn't help her in her distress either. A man she had never seen before was carrying her, she was tied up and the disgusting looks from her former fiancé were making her angry.

ˋPlease...someone...'

She knew it was hopeless. Every second felt like an eternity and she had long since been unable to orient herself to her surroundings. Who would come save her now?

"We're finally here, hehe."

Ramon's words brought her back to reality. She tried to look around with hasty glances, but was only slightly successful. They were standing in a relatively open field compared to the dense forest they had come through.

With a jerk, the unknown man threw her to the ground and walked aside with heavy steps. The sparks of his torch fluttered in the wind of the deep night. There appeared to be a freshly dug hole next to him, judging by the surrounding earth. Then it dawned on her. Her eyes began to quiver and her gaze shifted to her ex-fiancé, who was staring at her lustfully.

"Mhhhhh!?!"

— Tear

"Phew... What's this all about!?!" she screamed from the depths of her lungs.

"You know that very well, Celes."

"Don't put my name in your dirty mouth!"

— Slap

"Agh!?"

"Unruly bitch. You were mine from the beginning... You should have dedicated your entire existence to me! And you... you dare to break our engagement! You of all people!?"

"What happened to you, Ramon..."

"What happend to me?! This was always me! I have power and as heir to the house I will have even more power later! And you, what are you compared to me? Just the third daughter of a descending noble house! You and your pathetic family should have submitted to me...but you will pay for your actions!"

"You bastard..." Celes sniffled, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"But before you die, I will claim my legitimate right, even though you have already lost it."

"You wouldn't dare?!"

"After me, my friend here will have enough time with you before you finally end up in the ground, hehe." Ramon whispered in her ear, smiling.

"Y-you coward!?"

She tried with all her might to collect even the smallest spark of mana in her palms, but she failed. Everything around her fell silent, only the rapid beating of her heart filled her ears. She no longer felt anything, as if her mental defense mechanism was preparing her for the coming misfortune. As if a deep emptiness was eating her away from the inside.

— Rustle — Rustle

Ramon's hands were already tugging at Celes's clothes when a nearby rustling jolted him out of the situation. He looked annoyed. In his mind it must have been some animal interrupting his pleasant session with Celes, but the mercenary knew better. With powerful steps he sprinted in front of the young nobles and aimed his torch towards the sound.

"Show yourself!" he shouted aggressively.

It was hard to see anything because of the darkness. But in the light of the torch, something approached them with cautious steps. All eyes were on this something. Only when it was close enough did they recognize its true shape.

"Dean?!" Ramon said with wide eyes.

"Um, hey... I seem to have come at an inconvenient time." Dean replied coldly, pointing his finger at Celes's bound body.

There was a moment of silence and both parties looked at each other cautiously. One more action and it would escalate, they all knew that. Ramon and his henchman looked at each other in surprise, but soon nodded with a tasteless grin on their lips. Then Ramon opened his mouth.

"Mercenary, do what you were paid to do. Kill him."

Without any objection, the mercenary sighed and drew his sword. He actually wanted to avoid bloodshed, but his employer demanded it of him and he couldn't forgo the pay.

"Today doesn't seem to be your day, boy."

"It never is," Dean sighed.

"So come and convince yourself otherwise!"